Tips for Visitor
Made up of 26 Atolls and 1190 coral islands, stretching from north to south across the equator, Maldives is a perfect natural combination for the ideal tropical holiday destination. Tours to Maldives take visitors to sparkling white sun-kissed beaches, crystal-clear lagoons with colored corals and exquisite marine life surrounded with palm-fringed islands giving a rare glimpse of tropical paradise. These islands are situated in the South West of Sri Lanka, in the Indian Ocean.
A representative from the resort and/or BesTour Maldives will welcome the guests on arrival at the International Airport. The seafarers take three minutes to reach the jetty to join a speedboat or Dhoni transfer to the resort/island. It is a five minute bus ride to the check in terminal for sea plane or domestic air transfer.
Buffet meals which comprise of both western and eastern and sea food dishes in the resorts main restaurant of BesTour partner resorts and hotels. Enjoying a beach barbeques made from the fresh catch of the day will be a unique experience in the Maldives. Moreover, most of our partner resorts and hotels offer a variety of special dining settings and meals such as fine-dining, candle light dinner, Japanese teppanyaki and authentic Maldivian cuisines.
Neat, clean, plain furnished rooms in standard category and gracefully furnished, water bungalows in superior or deluxe category are the accommodation options in most of the resorts. All rooms are provided with air-conditioning and offer breathtaking views of the sea view. Most of them are single storied structures except for a few which are two storied. In our partner resorts, beach bungalows are located right around the island facing the islands own lagoon and beach, and water villas are built on stilts in the lagoon.
While live music, karaoke and DJ is offered as evening entertainment in some resorts, water sports activities such as swimming, snorkeling, diving, surfing, sailing, catamaran, jet skiing, parasailing, fishing and so on is a common feature available at almost all resorts as leisure and recreational activities.
Polio, hepatitis A, typhoid and the like vaccinations are recommended before embarking the plane or ship.
Most of the employees follow Islam in this 100% Muslim country and fast during the month of Ramadan but services to the guests are not interrupted by this.
Alcoholic beverages, canned drinks are all imported and hence may cost a little extra. Alcoholic beverages are available to the guests in the resorts and hotels. However, visitor are prohibited to carry alcoholic and Maldives Customs Services will confiscate them on arrival.
Visa, AMEX, Master Card, JCB and diners credit cards are accepted. All major currencies such as United States Dollars, Sterling Pounds and Euros are widely accepted in the resorts and islands. It is a norm that you need to settle all your bills before departure. Tipping is allowed in almost all resorts and hotels.
Government bed tax of $ 8 per tourist per night levied and 12% TGST is applicable by law. BesTour Maldives will indicate such taxes clearly in our quotations and invoices provided to all visitors.
RO Desalination plants are set up in all resorts for filtering ground or sea water to provide fresh water guest uses. It is generally used for bathrooms. Water supply is sometimes restricted if the rainfall is low or the demand is high. Bathroom hot water systems is offered in several resorts. Bottled mineral water is served for drinking.
Local and IDD telephones are found on all inhabited and resort islands. Telephone access from reception area and rooms is found on most resort islands. Wataniya and Dhiraagu provide mobile phone service throughout Maldives. To use your mobile phones you need to find out about the roaming agreement of your service provider with any of these services.
Internet access either via broadband or Wi-Fi is offered in some resorts while others have set up cyber cafes. These are generally situated in shopping areas or in the vicinity of the arrival jetty.
Generally locally made boats or speed boats are the mode of transport between the neighboring islands. The timings may vary according to the weather condition. Ari atoll resorts can be reached by helicopters or seaplanes in 20 to 45 minutes or speed boats in a little longer time. Inside the atolls the sea is found to be calm expect in the monsoon months May and June.
Further away from the airport no transfer is available on any resort. Those who arrive by evening flights need to check for the availability of night transfers. In three minutes you can reach the only airport hotel Hulhule Island Hotel for overnight stay or take accommodation in any other hotels in Male’ which are just ten minute ride away by a taxi or ferry boat. Every fifteen minutes such to and from shuttle service is provided costing about $1 per person.
- Those registering for a diving package need to get a physical fitness medical certificate.
- Diving certificates and log book copies should be brought by qualified divers.
- It is advisable to ensure having insurance cover for diving as it is usually not included in the general holiday insurance.
- Diving within 24 hours of arrival or departure is banned.
- Completion of 12 years is needed for diving.
- The mention of tank and weights only implies you need to take your stab jacket and regulator.
- Divers are recommended to have their own snorkel and mask.
- It is recommended that divers bring their own mask and snorkel.
A house reef is found on almost all islands. Trips to uninhabited islands and nearby reefs are arranged by most resorts. Usually the liveaboard guests anchor at secure reefs on fishing villages. They are allowed to snorkel at any such spot provided they bring their own fins, mask and snorkel.
